Dahlia plant named ‘Baldenire’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘Baldenire’, characterized by its semi-double, anemone-type, light red and medium yellow colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Dahlia variabilis.

Variety denomination: ‘Baldenire’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahliaplant botanically known as Dahlia variabilis and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Baldenire’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Hem, TheNetherlands during August 2014. The objective of the breeding programwas the development of Dahlia cultivars that are freely flowering withlarge inflorescences, mid-early season flower timing, and a vigorous,upright-mounded growth habit.

The new Dahlia cultivar is the result of open pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Dahlia variabilisbreeding selection coded E-243, not patented, characterized by itssemi-double, anemone-type, light red-colored inflorescences, mediumgreen-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growthhabit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The newcultivar was discovered as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the above stated open pollination during July 2015 in a controlledenvironment in Hem, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceJuly 2015 in Hem, The Netherlands and Andijk, The Netherlands hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true-to-type with all thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Baldenire’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Semi-double, anemone-type, light red and medium yellow        colored inflorescences;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having bicolored inflorescences and increased growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Dahlia cultivars, the most similar incomparison to the new cultivar is LABELLA ‘Maggiore Fun Flame’, notpatented. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ fromplants of ‘Maggiore Fun Flame’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a semi-double, anemone type        inflorescence that is different from the double-type        inflorescences of plants of ‘Maggiore Fun Flame’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a slightly darker shade of        red-colored ray florets than plants of ‘Maggiore Fun Flame’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Baldenire’. The13-week-old plants were grown in 6.5-inch pots for 9 weeks in aglass-covered greenhouse in Hem, The Netherlands. Plants were given onepinch before transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Baldenire’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Baldenire’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in March 2021 under naturallight conditions in Boskoop, The Netherlands.

The following descriptions and measurements describe 13-week-old plantsproduced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-coveredgreenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercialpractice. The plants were grown in Hem, The Netherlands in 6.5-inch potsfor 9 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given onepinch before transplant. Three Daminozide treatments were applied: oneat 2,500 ppm two weeks after transplant, a second at 3,000 ppm fourweeks after transplant and a third at 3,500 ppm six weeks aftertransplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at an average ofapproximately 64° F. (18° C.) during the day and approximately 61° F.(16° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurementsand numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis ‘Baldenire’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Dahlia variabilis breeding            selection coded E-243, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Unknown.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 12 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,            upright-mounded.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 32.2 cm. Height from soil level to top of            foliage: Approximately 23.9 cm. Width: Approximately 40.6            cm.        -   Branch.—Quantity of lateral branches per plant:            Approximately 6. Strength: Moderately strong. Length of            lateral branch: Approximately 15.6 cm. Diameter of lateral            branch at central internode: Approximately 8.0 mm. Length of            central internode of lateral branch: Approximately 2.5 cm.            Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:            Approximately 14. Type: Simple and compound. Quantity of            leaflets per compound leaf: Approximately 3, trifoliate.            Fragrance: None detected. Arrangement: Opposite. Aspect:            Petiole mostly perpendicular angle to stem with blade            extending downward. Shape of leaf and leaflet: Ovate. Margin            of leaf and leaflet: Widely serrate. Apex of leaf and            leaflet: Acute. Base of leaf and leaflet: Broadly attenuate.            Venation pattern: Pinnate.        -   Simple leaf.—Length: Approximately 12.4 cm. Width:            Approximately 8.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.            Texture of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent on venation.            Color of upper surface: 139A blended with 147A. Color of            lower surface: 191A to 191B. Length of petiole:            Approximately 5.6 cm. Diameter of petiole: Approximately            3.5 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces of petiole:            Glabrous. Color of upper surface of petiole: 146B with            NN137B. Color of lower surface of petiole: 146B.        -   Mature trifoliate leaf.—Shape: Ovate in outline. Length of            mature trifoliate leaf: Approximately 12.4 cm. Width of            mature trifoliate leaf: Approximately 14.4 cm. Length of            terminal leaflet: Approximately 10.8 cm. Width of terminal            leaflet: Approximately 6.7 cm. Length of lateral leaflet:            Approximately 7.9 cm. Width of lateral leaflet:            Approximately 4.7 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Sparsely pubescent on venation. Color of upper surface: 139A            blended with 147A. Color of lower surface: 191A and 191B.            Length of petiole of mature trifoliate leaf: Approximately            5.0 cm. Diameter of petiole of mature trifoliate leaf:            Approximately 3.5 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces of            petiole: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of petiole: 146B            with NN137B. Color of lower surface of petiole: 146B.            Rachis: Not present.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Baldenire’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from early summer through autumn.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 2 weeks.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Semi-double, anemone-type,            composite, consisting of multiple rows or ray florets, and            disc florets, persistent. Aspect: Facing upward and            moderately outward. Arrangement: Terminal, arising from leaf            axils on strong peduncles positioned over the foliage. Disc            and ray florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum.            Quantity per plant: Approximately 3. Fragrance: None. Shape:            Hemispherical when ray florets are fully open. Inflorescence            diameter: Approximately 10.5 cm. Inflorescence depth:            Approximately 6.9 cm. Disc diameter: Approximately 7.1 cm.            Receptacle diameter at base: Approximately 8.0 cm.            Receptacle depth: Approximately 2.0 mm. Receptacle color:            145B.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 11.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.            Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146A to 146B.        -   Bud.—Rate of bud opening: Generally takes 2 weeks for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 22.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblate. Depth at first            color: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter at first color:            Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Outer            surface of the phyllaries 151C to 151D with base of 143C.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 32.            Arrangement: Imbricate, in multiple whorls. Aspect: Slightly            convex, slightly twisted. Shape: Obovate to elliptic.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate.            Appearance: Matte. Length: Approximately 5.0 cm. Width:            Approximately 2.5 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.            Texture of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent on main veins,            ribbed. Color of upper surface when first and fully open:            33A transitioning to N30A at apex with base of 1A to 1B.            Color of lower surface when first and fully open: 30A to 30C            with base of 2B and venation of 12C. Color of upper surface            before senescence: 33B transitioning to 33A at apex with            base of 1B. Color of lower surface before senescence: 30B to            30D with base of 2B and venation of 12C.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 65.            Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Aspect:            Erect. Shape: Tubular. Margin: Entire. Apex: 5 acute tips.            Base: Fused. Length: Approximately 3.1 cm. Diameter at apex:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately            2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color when fully open: 1A with            base of 5A, heavily tinted with 30B to 30C before            senescence.        -   Outer phyllaries.—Quantity: Approximately 5. Aspect: Flat,            reflexed. Shape: Narrowly elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex:            Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Width:            Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 137A.        -   Inner phyllaries.—Quantity: Approximately 1 per floret.            Shape: Linear, imbricate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly            acute to obtuse. Base: Truncate. Length of outermost:            Approximately 2.1 cm. Width of outermost: Approximately            8.0 mm. Length of innermost: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width of            innermost: Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower            surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 151D,            translucent with 143A at base of outermost.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: On disc florets. Stamen            quantity: 5 per floret. Stamen length: Approximately 7.0 mm.            Anther shape: Linear. Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Anther color: 1B. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: 23A.            Gynoecium: On disc florets. Pistil length: Approximately            1.0 cm. Stigma shape: 2 branched. Stigma length:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma width: Approximately 3.0 mm.            Stigma color: 13B. Style length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Style            color: 2B. Ovary length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary color:            145C.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Dahlia has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named‘Baldenire’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.